Anatomy human

[ The questions asked by Yaksha to Yudhishthira (Dharma) regarding religious problems, are one of the salient features of Mahabharata. Here is given the short story with full list of the questions and answers, for the benefit of the readers of our Shri Sai Leela Magazine. —Editor ]

After leaving Kamyaka forest, the Pandavas again returned to Dwaita forest. There, in order to catch a deer which had run away with the piece of wood used by a Brahmin in the sacrificial processes, and which was a necessity for him, the Pandavas, on being requested by him, took each his bow and arrow and went into deep forest. While traversing the length and breadth of the forest, they could not come upon the swiftest deer. Tired and thirsty, they searched for some water source. Dharma, resting under a tree with his brothers, sent Nakula to the lake which was seen from the tree-top. Nakula was to bring water for all the brothers. Proceeding to the precincts of the lake, he reached down for having a sip of the waters when from the space, a voice announced " Oh, Nakula ! Do not make haste. This lake is belonging to me. You have first to answer my questions fully and correctly and then only you can drink of these pure waters. " Nakula however neglected the warning and drank the water. No sooner did he take one sip, than he fell lifeless on the bank.

After awaiting his return for some time, Dharma directed Sahadeva, Arjuna and Bheema by turns as the former did not return in time, but unfortunately, all the four brothers did not pay heed to the warning of Yaksha and all were dead.

Dharma, waiting for long minutes, himself ran down to the lake and to his great sorrow, saw the bodies of his dear brothers lying motionless on the bank. He wondered and went nearer the bank. The Yakshas warning echoed again. " Oh Dharma ! I am a crane ! This is my lake. First answer my questions satisfactorily and take a sip, otherwise, be dead just as your brothers. "

Dharma was knowing the nuances of religion. Before taking benefit of anybodys property, one has to fulfil certain conditions and take his permission. One cannot trespass and usurp anybody of his ownership or possession. Dharma was very polite, He said, " You do not seem to be a bird. You must be an angel of some high order like Rudra, Vasu or Marut (The angles of Fire, Earth or Air). Please let me have your Darshan. I will try to answer your questions according to my ability.

Yaksha was waiting for such a man. He asked Dharma many questions and Dharma replied all :

Yaksha-Prashnas

Question : What makes the Sun rise ?

Answer : Brahman.

Q — Who are His companions ?

A — Hosts of Devas.

Q — Who makes the Sun set ?

A — Dharma- The Universal Law.

Q — In what is the Sun established ?

A — In Truth.

Q — What makes a man Shrotriya ?

A — By Shrutees ( Vedas).

Q — By what a person attains Mahat abode ?

A — By Penance.

Q — What makes a man " accompanied by second ? "

A — By Courage.

Q — What gives a man intelligence ?

A — Serving the elders.

Q — In Brahmins, what is divinity and what is human quality ? What is saintly practice and what is evil practice for them ?

A :— To learn Vedas is divinity, to perform penance .is saintliness, to sacrifice is their human quality and to blame others is evil for them.

Q :— What are similar qualities for Kshatriyas ?

A : For Kshatriyas, Archery is divinity, Yadnya is saintliness, Fear is their human quality and " Not to protect the poor " is evil for them.

Q. Who is dead though living, enjoying sense- perceptions, intelligent and respected by all ?

A :--- One who does not feed the angels and gods, the guests, the servants, the mother and father as also his own soul, is verily dead though breathing.

Q :— What is greater than the Earth ? Higher than the Sky ?

Faster than Wind and numerous than grass-blades ?

A :— Mother is greater than the Earth. Father is higher than the sky; Mind is faster than wind and worries are more numerous than blades of grass !

Q ;— Who is a friend to travellers in foreign countries ?

Who is a friend to house-dweller ?

Who is a friend to a sufferer and who is a friend to a man on death bed ? A :— Co-travellers are friends in foreign land, wife to the house-dweller, doctor to the sufferer and surely, ‘charity is the friend to the dying man.

Q :— Who is guest to all ? What is eternal religion ? What is nectar ? What is in short all this world ?

A :— Fire is guest to all. Unchangeable tenements of religion is the eternal religion, the cows milk is the nectar and this world, in short, is like wind.

Q — Who travels alone ?

A — The sun.

Q — Who is born again after once being born ?

A — The moon ?

Q — What is medicine for cold ?

A — Warmth of fire.

Q — Which is the largest place ?

A — The Earth.

Q — What are the main abodes of religion, success, heaven and happiness.

A — Carefulness, charity, thruth and culture (good morals) are the main abodes respectively. Q — What is the soul of man, friend of man, source of livelihood and his last resort ?

A :— Son is his soul, wife is the ordained friend and compa nion, the cloud is source of livelihood and Dana ( charity ) is his last resort.

Q :— What is best : (1) quality in auspicious persons, (2) possession, (3) benefit and (4) happiness ?

A :— Awareness is the best quality of auspicious persons, scientific knowledge is best possession; good health is best benefit and contenment is best happiness.

Q :— What is the highest religion in society ? What reli gion gives lasting benefit ? What thing if controlled, does not bring in sorrow ? Whose agreement remains valid ?

A :— Pity, the religion laid down in Vedas, the mind under control and agreement with gentleman are the answers to these four questions.

Q :— Giving up of what (1) makes a man popular ? (2) makes him self-contained, (3) makes him free from sorrow and (4) makes him happy ?

A :— Renounce conceit to become popular, desire for being self-contained, anger to be free of sorrow and envy for happiness. [ The questions asked by Yaksha to Yudhishthira (Dharma) regarding religious problems, are one of the salient features of Mahabharata. Here is given the short story with full list of the questions and answers, for the benefit of the readers of our Shri Sai Leela Magazine. —Editor ]After leaving Kamyaka forest, the Pandavas again returned to Dwaita forest. There, in order to catch a deer which had run away with the piece of wood used by a Brahmin in the sacrificial processes, and which was a necessity for him, the Pandavas, on being requested by him, took each his bow and arrow and went into deep forest. While traversing the length and breadth of the forest, they could not come upon the swiftest deer. Tired and thirsty, they searched for some water source. Dharma, resting under a tree with his brothers, sent Nakula to the lake which was seen from the tree-top. Nakula was to bring water for all the brothers. Proceeding to the precincts of the lake, he reached down for having a sip of the waters when from the space, a voice announced " Oh, Nakula ! Do not make haste. This lake is belonging to me. You have first to answer my questions fully and correctly and then only you can drink of these pure waters. " Nakula however neglected the warning and drank the water. No sooner did he take one sip, than he fell lifeless on the bank.After awaiting his return for some time, Dharma directed Sahadeva, Arjuna and Bheema by turns as the former did not return in time, but unfortunately, all the four brothers did not pay heed to the warning of Yaksha and all were dead.Dharma, waiting for long minutes, himself ran down to the lake and to his great sorrow, saw the bodies of his dear brothers lying motionless on the bank. He wondered and went nearer the bank. The Yakshas warning echoed again. " Oh Dharma ! I am a crane ! This is my lake. First answer my questions satisfactorily and take a sip, otherwise, be dead just as your brothers. "Dharma was knowing the nuances of religion. Before taking benefit of anybodys property, one has to fulfil certain conditions and take his permission. One cannot trespass and usurp anybody of his ownership or possession. Dharma was very polite, He said, " You do not seem to be a bird. You must be an angel of some high order like Rudra, Vasu or Marut (The angles of Fire, Earth or Air). Please let me have your Darshan. I will try to answer your questions according to my ability.Yaksha was waiting for such a man. He asked Dharma many questions and Dharma replied all :Yaksha-PrashnasQuestion : What makes the Sun rise ? Answer : Brahman. Q — Who are His companions ? A — Hosts of Devas. Q — Who makes the Sun set ? A — Dharma- The Universal Law. Q — In what is the Sun established ? A — In Truth. Q — What makes a man Shrotriya ? A — By Shrutees ( Vedas). Q — By what a person attains Mahat abode ? A — By Penance.Q — What makes a man " accompanied by second ? " A — By Courage. Q — What gives a man intelligence ? A — Serving the elders. Q — In Brahmins, what is divinity and what is human quality ? What is saintly practice and what is evil practice for them ? A :— To learn Vedas is divinity, to perform penance .is saintliness, to sacrifice is their human quality and to blame others is evil for them.Q :— What are similar qualities for Kshatriyas ?A : For Kshatriyas, Archery is divinity, Yadnya is saintliness, Fear is their human quality and " Not to protect the poor " is evil for them.Q. Who is dead though living, enjoying sense- perceptions, intelligent and respected by all ? A :--- One who does not feed the angels and gods, the guests, the servants, the mother and father as also his own soul, is verily dead though breathing. Q :— What is greater than the Earth ? Higher than the Sky ?Faster than Wind and numerous than grass-blades ? A :— Mother is greater than the Earth. Father is higher than the sky; Mind is faster than wind and worries are more numerous than blades of grass ! Q ;— Who is a friend to travellers in foreign countries ?Who is a friend to house-dweller ?Who is a friend to a sufferer and who is a friend to a man on death bed ? A :— Co-travellers are friends in foreign land, wife to the house-dweller, doctor to the sufferer and surely, ‘charity is the friend to the dying man. Q :— Who is guest to all ? What is eternal religion ? What is nectar ? What is in short all this world ? A :— Fire is guest to all. Unchangeable tenements of religion is the eternal religion, the cows milk is the nectar and this world, in short, is like wind. Q — Who travels alone ? A — The sun.Q — Who is born again after once being born ? A — The moon ? Q — What is medicine for cold ? A — Warmth of fire. Q — Which is the largest place ? A — The Earth. Q — What are the main abodes of religion, success, heaven and happiness. A — Carefulness, charity, thruth and culture (good morals) are the main abodes respectively. Q — What is the soul of man, friend of man, source of livelihood and his last resort ?A :— Son is his soul, wife is the ordained friend and compa nion, the cloud is source of livelihood and Dana ( charity ) is his last resort.Q :— What is best : (1) quality in auspicious persons, (2) possession, (3) benefit and (4) happiness ?A :— Awareness is the best quality of auspicious persons, scientific knowledge is best possession; good health is best benefit and contenment is best happiness.Q :— What is the highest religion in society ? What reli gion gives lasting benefit ? What thing if controlled, does not bring in sorrow ? Whose agreement remains valid ?A :— Pity, the religion laid down in Vedas, the mind under control and agreement with gentleman are the answers to these four questions.Q :— Giving up of what (1) makes a man popular ? (2) makes him self-contained, (3) makes him free from sorrow and (4) makes him happy ?A :— Renounce conceit to become popular, desire for being self-contained, anger to be free of sorrow and envy for happiness.

With a telescope like the one here described, made with his own hands, a farmer boy many years ago discovered a comet which had escaped the watchful eyes of many astronomers.
First, get two pieces of plate glass, 6 in. square and 1 in. thick, and break the corners off to make them round, grinding the rough edges on a grindstone.
Use a barrel to work on, and fasten one glass on the top of it in the center by driving three small nails at the sides to hold it in place. Fasten, with pitch, a round 4-in. block of wood in the center on one side of the other glass to serve as a handle.


Homemade Telescope

Use wet grain emery for coarse grinding. Take a pinch and spread it evenly on the glass which is on the barrel, then take the glass with the handle and move it back and forth across the lower glass, while walking around the barrel; also rotate the glass, which is necessary to make it grind evenly. The upper glass or speculum always becomes concave, and the under glass or tool convex.

Work with straight strokes 5 or 6 in. in length; after working 5 hours hold the speculum in the sunshine and throw the rays of the sun onto a paper; where the rays come to a point gives the focal length. If the glass is not ground enough to bring the rays to a point within 5 ft., the coarse grinding must be continued, unless a longer focal length is wanted.

Have ready six large dishes, then take 2 lb. flour emery and mix in 12 qt. of water; immediately turn the water into a clean dish and let settle 30 seconds; then turn it into another dish and let settle 2 minutes, then 8 minutes, 30 minutes and 90 minutes, being careful not to turn off the coarser emery which has settled. When dry, turn the emery from the 5 jars into 5 separate bottles, and label. Then take a little of the coarsest powder, wetting it to the consistency of cream, and spread on the glass, work as before (using short straight strokes 1-1/2 or 2 in.) until the holes in the glass left by the grain emery are ground out; next use the finer grades until the pits left by each coarser grade are ground out. When the two last grades are used shorten the strokes to less than 2 in. When done the glass should be semi-transparent, and is ready for polishing.

When polishing the speculum, paste a strip of paper 1-1/3 in. wide around the convex glass or tool, melt 1 lb. of pitch and turn on to it and press with the wet speculum. Mold the pitch while hot into squares of 1 in., with 1/4-in. spaces, as in Fig. 1. Then warm and press again with the speculum, being careful to have all the squares touch the speculum, or it will not polish evenly. Trim the paper from the edge with a sharp knife, and paint the squares separately with jewelers rouge, wet till soft like paint. Use a binger to spread it on with. Work the speculum over the tool the same as when grinding, using straight strokes 2 in. or less.


Detail of Telescope Construction

When the glass is polished enough to reflect some light, it should be tested with the knife-edge test. In a dark room, set the speculum against the wall, and a large lamp, L, Fig. 2, twice the focal length away. Place a large sheet of pasteboard, A, Fig. 2, with a small needle hole opposite the blaze, by the side of the lamp, so the light from the blaze will shine onto the glass. Place the speculum S, Fig. 2, so the rays from the needle hole will be thrown to the left side of the lamp (facing the speculum), with the knife mounted in a block of wood and edgeways to the lamp, as in K, Fig. 2. The knife should not be more than 6 in. from the lamp. Now move the knife across the rays from left to right, and look at the speculum with the eye on the right side of the blade. When the focus is found, if the speculum is ground and polished evenly it will darken evenly over the surface as the knife shuts off the light from the needle hole. If not, the speculum will show some dark rings, or hills. If the glass seems to have a deep hollow in the center, shorter strokes should be used in polishing; if a hill in the center, longer strokes. The polishing and testing done, the speculum is ready to be silvered. Two glass or earthenware dishes, large enough to hold the speculum and 2 in. deep, must be procured. With pitch, cement a strip of board 8 in. long to the back of the speculum, and lay the speculum face down in one of the dishes; fill the dish with distilled water, and clean the face of the speculum with nitric acid, until the water will stick to it in an unbroken film.

The recipe for silvering the speculum is:

    Solution A:
    Distilled water………………………..4 oz.
    Silver nitrate……………………….100 gr.

    Solution B:
    Distilled water………………………..4 oz.
    Caustic stick potash (pure by alcohol)….100 gr.

    Solution C:
    Aqua Ammonia.

    Solution D:
    Sugar loaf…………………………..840 gr.
    Nitric acid…………………………..39 gr.
    Alcohol (Pure)………………………..25 gr.

Mix solution D and make up to 25 fluid oz. with distilled water, pour into a bottle and carefully put away in a safe place for future use, as it works better when old:

Now take solution A and set aside in a small bottle one-tenth of it, and pour the rest into the empty dish; add the ammonia solution drop by drop; a dark brown precipitate will form and subside; stop adding ammonia solution as soon as the bath clears. Then add solution B, then ammonia until bath is clear. Now add enough of the solution A, that was set aside, to bring the bath to a warm saffron color without destroying its transparency. Then add 1 oz. of solution D and stir until bath grows dark. Place the speculum, face down, in the bath and leave until the silver rises, then raise the speculum and rinse with distilled water. The small flat mirror may be silvered the same way. When dry, the silver film may be polished with a piece of chamois skin, touched with rouge, the polishing being accomplished by means of a light spiral stroke.

Fig. 3 shows the position of the glasses in the tube, also how the rays R from a star are thrown to the eyepiece E in the side of the tube. Make the tube I of sheet iron, cover with paper and cloth, then paint to make a non-conductor of heat or cold. Make the mounting of good seasoned lumber.

Thus an excellent 6-in. telescope can be made at home, with an outlay of only a few dollars. My telescope is 64 in. long and cost me just $15, but I used all my spare time in one winter in making it. I first began studying the heavens through a spyglass, but an instrument such as I desired would cost $200—more than I could afford.
Then I made the one described, with which I discovered a new comet not before observed by astronomers.

Excerpt from the book:
THE BOY MECHANIC
VOLUME I
700 THINGS FOR BOYS TO DO
WITH 800 ILLUSTRATIONS
1913, BY H. H. WINDSOR CHICAGO
POPULAR MECHANICS CO. PUBLISHERS

Youve been in a storm -- you know what thunder sounds like. But, do you know what the thunder is saying?
Ages ago, in India, sages meditated on the thunder and they tell this story.

When creation began, there was only the Creator. One of his names -- the one in this story -- is Prajapati. Tired of being alone, Prajapati gave birth to three kinds of beings: gods, men, and, of course, demons. (Demons always make stories more interesting!)

Well, as young people did in olden times, all these children had been studying with their father, living a disciplined life. The day came when that stage of life was finished and they were about to leave home and go out into their respective worlds -- the gods to their heavens, the men to earth, and the demons to the hells below.

Before leaving, the gods came to their father, Prajapati, saying, "Give us a final word, Sir, before we leave, if you please."
He was a close-mouthed old man, and besides, he wanted to test their learning, so he gave them even less than a word! He gave them only a syllable, the Sanskrit syllable "da".

"Have you understood me?" their father asked.

"Yes, Sir," said the gods, "that must be short for damyata, meaning be self-controlled".

"Yes," said Prajapati.

Then it came the turn of the men to say goodbye. They too asked their father for a final word, but he gave them the same syllable, "da". "Have you understood?" he asked.

"Yes, Sir," said the men, "this must be short for datta, meaning give in charity".

"Yes," said the father. And when the demons came, it was the same story. Prajapati said "da" and asked if they understood.

"Yes, Sir," said the demons (showing surprising intelligence), "it must be short for dayadhvam, and you mean be kind, be merciful".
"Yes," said Prajapati. Then they all bowed down before him and went their ways.

What do you understand by this story?

The demons, you see, are very cruel by nature. But if they can somehow bring some kindness and mercy into their miserable lives, then there is hope for them to go up to a higher state.

Human beings, on the other hand, are better, but selfish; what they need is to help and serve one another on this earth. Then they too will become fit for rising higher.

Now the gods are busy enjoying themselves in heaven, and there they have such a good time that they forget about Truth and how to search for it. Without self-control, they will never find Truth.

So, Prajapati told each group the same thing, knowing full well that each sort of offspring would understand it in exactly his own way. Great teachers often do this.

So, it is said that, even today, when you hear the thunders "da, da, da" it is the voice of old Prajapati, the Creator, repeating from time to time his instructions to all kinds of beings.

Chhandogya Upanishad

Once upon a time there was a little boy who had taken cold. He had gone out and got his feet wet; though nobody could imagine how it had happened, for it was quite dry weather. So his mother undressed him, put him to bed, and had the tea-pot brought in, to make him a good cup of Elderflower tea. Just at that moment the merry old man came in who lived up a-top of the house all alone; for he had neither wife nor children—but he liked children very much, and knew so many fairy tales, that it was quite delightful.

"Now drink your tea," said the boys mother; "then, perhaps, you may hear a fairy tale."

"If I had but something new to tell," said the old man. "But how did the child get his feet wet?"

"That is the very thing that nobody can make out," said his mother.

"Am I to hear a fairy tale?" asked the little boy.

"Yes, if you can tell me exactly—for I must know that first—how deep the gutter is in the little street opposite, that you pass through in going to school."

"Just up to the middle of my boot," said the child; "but then I must go into the deep hole."

"Ah, ah! Thats where the wet feet came from," said the old man. "I ought now to tell you a story; but I dont know any more."

"You can make one in a moment," said the little boy. "My mother says that all you look at can be turned into a fairy tale: and that you can find a story in everything."

"Yes, but such tales and stories are good for nothing. The right sort come of themselves; they tap at my forehead and say, Here we are."

"Wont there be a tap soon?" asked the little boy. And his mother laughed, put some Elder-flowers in the tea-pot, and poured boiling water upon them.

"Do tell me something! Pray do!"

"Yes, if a fairy tale would come of its own accord; but they are proud and haughty, and come only when they choose. Stop!" said he, all on a sudden. "I have it! Pay attention! There is one in the tea-pot!"

And the little boy looked at the tea-pot. The cover rose more and more; and the Elder-flowers came forth so fresh and white, and shot up long branches. Out of the spout even did they spread themselves on all sides, and grew larger and larger; it was a splendid Elderbush, a whole tree; and it reached into the very bed, and pushed the curtains aside. How it bloomed! And what an odour! In the middle of the bush sat a friendly-looking old woman in a most strange dress. It was quite green, like the leaves of the elder, and was trimmed with large white Elder-flowers; so that at first one could not tell whether it was a stuff, or a natural green and real flowers.

"Whats that womans name?" asked the little boy.

"The Greeks and Romans," said the old man, "called her a Dryad; but that we do not understand. The people who live in the New Booths [*] have a much better name for her; they call her old Granny—and she it is to whom you are to pay attention. Now listen, and look at the beautiful Elderbush.

     * A row of buildings for seamen in Copenhagen.

"Just such another large blooming Elder Tree stands near the New Booths. It grew there in the corner of a little miserable court-yard; and under it sat, of an afternoon, in the most splendid sunshine, two old people; an old, old seaman, and his old, old wife. They had great-grand-children, and were soon to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage; but they could not exactly recollect the date: and old Granny sat in the tree, and looked as pleased as now. I know the date, said she; but those below did not hear her, for they were talking about old times.

"Yes, cant you remember when we were very little, said the old seaman, and ran and played about? It was the very same court-yard where we now are, and we stuck slips in the ground, and made a garden.

"I remember it well, said the old woman; I remember it quite well. We watered the slips, and one of them was an Elderbush. It took root, put forth green shoots, and grew up to be the large tree under which we old folks are now sitting.

"To be sure, said he. And there in the corner stood a waterpail, where I used to swim my boats.

"True; but first we went to school to learn somewhat, said she; and then we were confirmed. We both cried; but in the afternoon we went up the Round Tower, and looked down on Copenhagen, and far, far away over the water; then we went to Friedericksberg, where the King and the Queen were sailing about in their splendid barges.

"But I had a different sort of sailing to that, later; and that, too, for many a year; a long way off, on great voyages.

"Yes, many a time have I wept for your sake, said she. I thought you were dead and gone, and lying down in the deep waters. Many a night have I got up to see if the wind had not changed: and changed it had, sure enough; but you never came. I remember so well one day, when the rain was pouring down in torrents, the scavengers were before the house where I was in service, and I had come up with the dust, and remained standing at the door—it was dreadful weather—when just as I was there, the postman came and gave me a letter. It was from you! What a tour that letter had made! I opened it instantly and read: I laughed and wept. I was so happy. In it I read that you were in warm lands where the coffee-tree grows. What a blessed land that must be! You related so much, and I saw it all the while the rain was pouring down, and I standing there with the dust-box. At the same moment came someone who embraced me.

"Yes; but you gave him a good box on his ear that made it tingle!

"But I did not know it was you. You arrived as soon as your letter, and you were so handsome—that you still are—and had a long yellow silk handkerchief round your neck, and a bran new hat on; oh, you were so dashing! Good heavens! What weather it was, and what a state the street was in!

"And then we married, said he. Dont you remember? And then we had our first little boy, and then Mary, and Nicholas, and Peter, and Christian.

"Yes, and how they all grew up to be honest people, and were beloved by everybody.

"And their children also have children, said the old sailor; yes, those are our grand-children, full of strength and vigor. It was, methinks about this season that we had our wedding.

"Yes, this very day is the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage, said old Granny, sticking her head between the two old people; who thought it was their neighbor who nodded to them. They looked at each other and held one another by the hand. Soon after came their children, and their grand-children; for they knew well enough that it was the day of the fiftieth anniversary, and had come with their gratulations that very morning; but the old people had forgotten it, although they were able to remember all that had happened many years ago. And the Elderbush sent forth a strong odour in the sun, that was just about to set, and shone right in the old peoples faces. They both looked so rosy-cheeked; and the youngest of the grandchildren danced around them, and called out quite delighted, that there was to be something very splendid that evening—they were all to have hot potatoes. And old Nanny nodded in the bush, and shouted hurrah! with the rest."

"But that is no fairy tale," said the little boy, who was listening to the story.

"The thing is, you must understand it," said the narrator; "let us ask old Nanny."

"That was no fairy tale, tis true," said old Nanny; "but now its coming. The most wonderful fairy tales grow out of that which is reality; were that not the case, you know, my magnificent Elderbush could not have grown out of the tea-pot." And then she took the little boy out of bed, laid him on her bosom, and the branches of the Elder Tree, full of flowers, closed around her. They sat in an aerial dwelling, and it flew with them through the air. Oh, it was wondrous beautiful! Old Nanny had grown all of a sudden a young and pretty maiden; but her robe was still the same green stuff with white flowers, which she had worn before. On her bosom she had a real Elderflower, and in her yellow waving hair a wreath of the flowers; her eyes were so large and blue that it was a pleasure to look at them; she kissed the boy, and now they were of the same age and felt alike.

Hand in hand they went out of the bower, and they were standing in the beautiful garden of their home. Near the green lawn papas walking-stick was tied, and for the little ones it seemed to be endowed with life; for as soon as they got astride it, the round polished knob was turned into a magnificent neighing head, a long black mane fluttered in the breeze, and four slender yet strong legs shot out. The animal was strong and handsome, and away they went at full gallop round the lawn.

"Huzza! Now we are riding miles off," said the boy. "We are riding away to the castle where we were last year!"

And on they rode round the grass-plot; and the little maiden, who, we know, was no one else but old Nanny, kept on crying out, "Now we are in the country! Dont you see the farm-house yonder? And there is an Elder Tree standing beside it; and the cock is scraping away the earth for the hens, look, how he struts! And now we are close to the church. It lies high upon the hill, between the large oak-trees, one of which is half decayed. And now we are by the smithy, where the fire is blazing, and where the half-naked men are banging with their hammers till the sparks fly about. Away! away! To the beautiful country-seat!"

And all that the little maiden, who sat behind on the stick, spoke of, flew by in reality. The boy saw it all, and yet they were only going round the grass-plot. Then they played in a side avenue, and marked out a little garden on the earth; and they took Elder-blossoms from their hair, planted them, and they grew just like those the old people planted when they were children, as related before. They went hand in hand, as the old people had done when they were children; but not to the Round Tower, or to Friedericksberg; no, the little damsel wound her arms round the boy, and then they flew far away through all Denmark. And spring came, and summer; and then it was autumn, and then winter; and a thousand pictures were reflected in the eye and in the heart of the boy; and the little girl always sang to him, "This you will never forget." And during their whole flight the Elder Tree smelt so sweet and odorous; he remarked the roses and the fresh beeches, but the Elder Tree had a more wondrous fragrance, for its flowers hung on the breast of the little maiden; and there, too, did he often lay his head during the flight.

"It is lovely here in spring!" said the young maiden. And they stood in a beech-wood that had just put on its first green, where the woodroof [*] at their feet sent forth its fragrance, and the pale-red anemony looked so pretty among the verdure. "Oh, would it were always spring in the sweetly-smelling Danish beech-forests!"

     * Asperula odorata.

"It is lovely here in summer!" said she. And she flew past old castles of by-gone days of chivalry, where the red walls and the embattled gables were mirrored in the canal, where the swans were swimming, and peered up into the old cool avenues. In the fields the corn was waving like the sea; in the ditches red and yellow flowers were growing; while wild-drone flowers, and blooming convolvuluses were creeping in the hedges; and towards evening the moon rose round and large, and the haycocks in the meadows smelt so sweetly. "This one never forgets!"

"It is lovely here in autumn!" said the little maiden. And suddenly the atmosphere grew as blue again as before; the forest grew red, and green, and yellow-colored. The dogs came leaping along, and whole flocks of wild-fowl flew over the cairn, where blackberry-bushes were hanging round the old stones. The sea was dark blue, covered with ships full of white sails; and in the barn old women, maidens, and children were sitting picking hops into a large cask; the young sang songs, but the old told fairy tales of mountain-sprites and soothsayers. Nothing could be more charming.

"It is delightful here in winter!" said the little maiden. And all the trees were covered with hoar-frost; they looked like white corals; the snow crackled under foot, as if one had new boots on; and one falling star after the other was seen in the sky. The Christmas-tree was lighted in the room; presents were there, and good-humor reigned. In the country the violin sounded in the room of the peasant; the newly-baked cakes were attacked; even the poorest child said, "It is really delightful here in winter!"

Yes, it was delightful; and the little maiden showed the boy everything; and the Elder Tree still was fragrant, and the red flag, with the white cross, was still waving: the flag under which the old seaman in the New Booths had sailed. And the boy grew up to be a lad, and was to go forth in the wide world-far, far away to warm lands, where the coffee-tree grows; but at his departure the little maiden took an Elder-blossom from her bosom, and gave it him to keep; and it was placed between the leaves of his Prayer-Book; and when in foreign lands he opened the book, it was always at the place where the keepsake-flower lay; and the more he looked at it, the fresher it became; he felt as it were, the fragrance of the Danish groves; and from among the leaves of the flowers he could distinctly see the little maiden, peeping forth with her bright blue eyes—and then she whispered, "It is delightful here in Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter"; and a hundred visions glided before his mind.

Thus passed many years, and he was now an old man, and sat with his old wife under the blooming tree. They held each other by the hand, as the old grand-father and grand-mother yonder in the New Booths did, and they talked exactly like them of old times, and of the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding. The little maiden, with the blue eyes, and with Elder-blossoms in her hair, sat in the tree, nodded to both of them, and said, "To-day is the fiftieth anniversary!" And then she took two flowers out of her hair, and kissed them. First, they shone like silver, then like gold; and when they laid them on the heads of the old people, each flower became a golden crown. So there they both sat, like a king and a queen, under the fragrant tree, that looked exactly like an elder: the old man told his wife the story of "Old Nanny," as it had been told him when a boy. And it seemed to both of them it contained much that resembled their own history; and those parts that were like it pleased them best.

"Thus it is," said the little maiden in the tree, "some call me Old Nanny, others a Dryad, but, in reality, my name is Remembrance; tis I who sit in the tree that grows and grows! I can remember; I can tell things! Let me see if you have my flower still?"

And the old man opened his Prayer-Book. There lay the Elder-blossom, as fresh as if it had been placed there but a short time before; and Remembrance nodded, and the old people, decked with crowns of gold, sat in the flush of the evening sun. They closed their eyes, and—and—! Yes, thats the end of the story!

The little boy lay in his bed; he did not know if he had dreamed or not, or if he had been listening while someone told him the story. The tea-pot was standing on the table, but no Elder Tree was growing out of it! And the old man, who had been talking, was just on the point of going out at the door, and he did go.

"How splendid that was!" said the little boy. "Mother, I have been to warm countries."

"So I should think," said his mother. "When one has drunk two good cupfuls of Elder-flower tea, tis likely enough one goes into warm climates"; and she tucked him up nicely, least he should take cold. "You have had a good sleep while I have been sitting here, and arguing with him whether it was a story or a fairy tale."

"And where is old Nanny?" asked the little boy.

"In the tea-pot," said his mother; "and there she may remain."

A Buzz-saw Whirligig is an interesting toy (Fig. 108). Lay out a disk about 5 inches in diameter upon a piece of cardboard, locate the position for the spool-end on the center of each face, and make four rings outside of this.

Fig. 108.—The Buzz-saw whizzes when you twist the Cord.

Divide the circumference of the disk into sixteen equal parts, and lay off the teeth as shown. (Fig. 111.)
The spool-ends used for centers should have two holes drilled through them for the twisting cord to slip through, and should be fastened to the disk with glue or brads.

Fig. 111.—Detail of Buzz-saw Whirligig shown in Fig. 108.
A cotton string is best for
Operating the Whirligig. After slipping it through the holes in the spool-ends, tie the ends together. To work the toy, slip the first finger of each hand through the loop of each end, and whirl the disk in one direction until the string is twisted from both ends as far as the center.
Then pull firmly on the ends of the string, and the disk will whirl in the opposite direction until the string is untwisted and twisted up again in the opposite direction.
As the strings twist, slacken your hold upon the ends, and when it has wound up tight pull again to make it whirl in the opposite direction. The disk should whirl very steadily when working right, and the knack of making the string twist so the disk will do so is attained with a little practice.

HOME-MADE TOYS FOR GIRLS AND BOYS
BOOKS BY A. NEELY HALL
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON
Published, August, 1915

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Humans have about 200 bones in the body, which are joined together and make up the skeleton. 
Your skeleton helps give your body its shape.
The bones of your skull determine the shape of your head.
Long bones hold muscles that shape your arms and legs.
Rib bones curve to make the sides of your chest.
Your skeleton is the framework of your body. It holds you up and also helps you to move around.
Some bones protect your main inner organs. 
For example, your skull protects your brain. And your ribs make a rib cage around your heart and lungs.

What are bones made of?

Bones are hard tissues that are living parts of your body, just as your brain and heart are living parts.
Bones contain cells that divide and multiply, causing you to grow.
These cells are also always rebuilding the bony tissue to keep it strong.
Rebuilding happens less as people grow older. So a broken bone will often heal much more quickly in a child than in an adult.
Bones store substances called minerals, which your body uses. Calcium is a mineral. It helps to make the bones hard.
Bones have a strong covering, called periosteum. Inside, there is a hard layer of compact bone. A long bone, such as the thigh bone, has spongy tissue at its ends, called cancellous bone, and soft marrow in its hollow center.

Some parts of your skeleton, such as your arms and legs, have only a few long bones. Other parts, such as your hands and feet, have many small bones.

How are bones held together?

Your bones are held together by strong, flexible straps called ligaments. 
The ends of the bones are covered with a smooth, rubbery substance called cartilage. 
This is the same kind of substance that forms the tip of your nose.
Cartilage works like a cushion so that the bones don’t grind against each other.
Cartilage is covered in a liquid called synovial fluid.
This keeps the bones moving smoothly, like oil in the parts of a machine.

Have you ever watched the sea during a storm?
The waves crash down with enormous energy. Sometimes they are strong enough to damage seaside walls and buildings, or even make cliffs crumble.
Do you know how we can make use of energy from the waves?
One idea is to place a line of rafts floating on the sea. These rafts move up and down with the waves, and their kinetic energy can be converted to electricity. One type of raft is the Salter duck, named after its British inventor, Stephen Salter. Salter ducks bob up and down as the waves pass by. Their movement produces energy that pumps water through a turbine, which then turns a generator.

As the tide water flows out, it passes through turbines to generate electricity. There are few large tidal power stations because they are expensive to build.

The energy in the sea’s tides, which rise and fall every day, can be converted to hydroelectric power. When the tide comes in, the water is stored behind a dam. When the tide goes out, the water flows from the dam through a turbine and produces electricity. There are tidal power stations in northern France, on the Annapolis River in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and at Murmansk in Russia.

A comforting and assuring belief existed among the Romans, that each individual was accompanied through life, from the hour of his birth to that of his death, by a protecting spirit, called his genius, who prompted him to good and noble deeds, and acted towards him as a guardian angel, comforting him in sorrow, and guiding him throughout his earthly career.
In the course of time a second genius was believed to exist, of an evil nature, who, as the instigator of all wrong-doing, was ever at war with the beneficent genius; and on the issue of the conflict between these antagonistic influences, depended the fate of the individual. The genii were depicted as winged beings, greatly resembling our modern representations of guardian angels.
Every state, town, or city, (as well as every man), possessed its special genius. The sacrifices to the genii consisted of wine, cakes, and incense, which were offered to them on birthdays.
The genius which guided a woman was called, after the queen of heaven, Juno.
Among the Greeks, beings called Dæmons were regarded as exercising similar functions to those of the Roman genii. They were believed to be the spirits of the righteous race which existed in the Golden Age, who watched over mankind, carrying their prayers to the gods, and the gifts of the gods to them.

Text:
Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
Author: E.M. Berens
Published: 1880

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